From Revelation 17-19
John has a vision of a woman holding a cup on a mythical beast with seven heads and ten horns. They wage war on the Lamb and those who follow him. The resolution of John’s vision is intended to comfort those who suffer by the evil powers of this world.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
The pattern of judgment on the wicked giving them the opportunity to repent is repeated in John’s vision. Seven angels have been pouring out their bowls of God’s wrath on the wicked. The seventh angel shows John the great prostitute, Babylon.
17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” (Rev 17.1-2)
‘The great prostitute’. Using apocalyptic imagery John is shown the great prostitute who is seated on many waters which represent chaos. The forces in rebellion against God. She has enticed many kings of the earth into sexual immorality. They have become drunk on it.
3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. (Rev 17.3-6)
‘Carried away in the Spirit’. John is carried away and shown another vision of an evil woman. She rides upon a fantastic creature with seven heads and ten horns. They represent kingdoms and their power.
She herself is clothed in purple (the colour of kings) and scarlet (the colour of blood and violence).
‘Golden cup’. She holds a cup of her own. In contrast to the cups of God’s holy wrath the angels have been pouring out, she holds a cup full of abominations and impurity.
‘Drunk with the blood’. She is drunk with the blood of the Saints. She has been killing God’s people. What we see here is a cosmic war between the forces of good and evil. The evil looks to be winning.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. (Rev 17.6-8)
‘Marveled greatly’. John is quite impressed with the woman on the beast when he first sees her, but the angel warns him away.
God’s people are tempted by evil, but need to resist.
The angel goes on to explain the woman and the beast rising from the bottomless pit are one and the same. This beast will go to destruction and in particular lure the dwellers in this world away.
‘Book of life’. The only ones exempt from marvelling at her will be those written in the book of life. They are not among the dwellers on earth because they are prepared for another kingdom.
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. (Rev 17.9-12)
‘Mind with wisdom’. The angel says the beast needs to be properly understood to rightly understand what is happening in the world and to God’s people.
13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev 17.13-14)
‘Of one mind’. The dwellers of earth are united in giving over power and authority to the beast. The angel says Jesus and his people will be in conflict with those who have given themselves over to marvel at the beast.
They will make war on the lamb and his people, but the Lamb will conquer them.
‘The Lamb will conquer’. The Lamb will conquer them (future tense) because he is Lord and King. Both imply his power and authority.
The eventual defeat of the forces of darkness and the description of those who follow Jesus would bring a measure of comfort to his people currently suffering under the dark powers.
Words for Believers
God’s people who suffer at the hands of others today can be comforted by the fact that while the evil powers of this world seem to have the upper hand. Ultimately their empires will fade.
From our limited perspectives, seeing Jesus conquer over all seems a long time coming. If we consider history however, evil powers have always come to an end. This is will happen with today’s evil powers as well. God remains sovereign.
He is Lord of Lord and King of Kings, and those with him are chosen and faithful.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
